Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-01-13
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ghO Interesting views OF this late
Dr, . G.. Holland.


Dr, , G.. holland.
The columns OF the newspapers appear
to be flooded with proprietary medicine
advertisements. As we cast our eye over
them, IL brings to mind an article that
was Published by the late DIR. Holland In
Soy46ae7'S Monthly. He says: ''Never.
theless, 1t is fact that many of the best
proprietary medicines Of the day were
more successful than many physicians,
and most of them, il should be remem-
bered, were at first discovered or used in
actual medical practice. When, however,
any shrewd person, knowing their virtue,
and foreseeing their popularity, secures
and advertises them, then, in the opinion
of the bigoted, ill virtue went out of
them
Is not this absurd?
This great man appreciated the real
merits OF popular remedies and the ab-
surdits OF those that derided them be-
cause public attention was called to the
article and the evidence Of their cures.
II the most noted physician should an
nounce that he made a study of any GER
tain organ or disease of the body, or
make his sign larger than the code size,
though he may have practised medicine
notwithstanding all this, If he should
presume to advertise and decline to give
his discovery TO the public, he would be
pronounced o quack and o humbug, al
though he may have spent his entire life
and all his available funds In perfecting
his investigations.
Again we said "absurd.n
II an ulcer is found upon ones arm,
and is cured by some dear soul of a
grandmother, outside Of the code, il will
be pronounced by the medical profession
an ulcer of little Importance. But If
treated under the code, causing sleepless
nights for month, with the scientific
treatment, viz, plhsters, washes, dosing
with morphine, arsenic and other vile
substances, given to prevent blood poison
ing or deaden pain, and yet the ulcer
becomes malignant, and amputation is
made necessary at last, to save life, yet
all done according TO the ''isms" of the
medical code, this is much more crafty
ing to the medical profession, aud adds
more dignity to that distinguished order
than to be cured by the dear old grand
mothers remedy.
This appears like a severe arraignment,
yet we believe that 1t expresses the true
standing of the medical profession in re-
gard to remedies discovered outside of
their special ''isms." One OF the most
perplexing things of the day is the popu-
larity Of certain remedies, especially
Warmers safe cure, which we find for sale
everywhere. The physician of the highest
standing is ready to cnncede its merits
and sustain the theories the propristors
have nade-that is, that it benefits in
most of the ailments Of the human sys-
tenn because it assists in putting the kid
neys in proper condition, thereby aiding
in throwing off the impurities of the
blood, while others with less honesty and
experience deride, end are willing to see
their patient die scientifically and accord.
ing to tue code, rather than have him
cured by this great remedy.
Yet we notice that the popularity of
the medicine continues to grow year by
year. The discoverer comes boldly be-
fore the people with its merits. and pro-
claims them from door to door in our
opinion much more honorably than the
physician who, perohance, may secure
patient from some catastrophe, and is
permitted to set bone of an arm or o
finger, which he does with great dignity,
yet very soon after takes the liberty to
climb the EDITORS back stairs at 2 o'clock
in the morning to have it announced in
the morning paper that ''Dr. So.and-so
was in attendance" thus securing for his
benefit beautiful and free advertisement.
We shall leave it to our readers to say
which is the wiser and more honorable.